Thanks to Fr. Jim at Dappled Things, he has posted something about the history of Incense in liturgical practice. Very interesting.
Sunday Recap
Divine Liturgy was wonderful with His Grace Bishop Nikon at St. Nicholas Church here in Southbridge. We had about 125 people in the congregation and that was wonderful also. It is shades of what could be if all the churches in town were one. Putting that aside, it was a great morning.
This afternoon I attended a concert at St. George Cathedral in Worcester. This was a concert by the combined choirs of the New England Antiocheans. 65 voices and a crowd of about 300 or maybe 400 it was spectacular. I can only imagine how hard they must have to rehearse to get to sound like that. Man they are good.
Off to a class tomorrow on Critical Incident Stress Management. This is part of my duties as a fire chaplain. When I went into this ministry I had no idea I would get involved in the things that I am involved in. I am so happy that I decided to do this ministry. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking to get involved deeper in ministry and ministry from another perspective. Two days of class to move to the advance level. More on that after.
Sunday
Today I will be a spectator at liturgy. As my parish has done for the last few years, we join our friends across the street at St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church for the celebration of their feast day. I believe that Bishop Nikon will be in attendance so I will be at the altar but will not celebrate per se. In the Orthodox world we do not concelebrate as our friends in the Roman Church do. One of the best parts of this is that I will have a chance to worship for a change and also I don’t have to preach. As a pastor I very rarely get the chance to worship as I am always working. Not that being the celebrant at a Divine Liturgy is not worship, but you often find your mind drifting to what the altar servers are doing of what the cantor is going to sing, how many people are in the church, and the every important what am I going to say today. So today it is sit back and enjoy the liturgy.
Here in the village we have three Orthodox Churches. Ours, St. Michael’s, the one across the street that I have already mentioned, St. Nicholas, and a small Greek church, St. George. This can cause some distress from time to time as we really should be one church and not three small ones. We all struggle to survive and I often think it would be easier if we were one larger church. The three of us exist because Southbridge was once a town with people from all different lands and could support three churches. By the way there are four Roman Catholic Churches here also… However time has changed the town and we no longer have the numbers we used to have. Something should be done, but it will happen in God’s time.
So I got to sleep a little latter today and will have an enjoyable day at St. Nick’s. Tonight there is a concert at St. George Cathedral in Worcester that I might try to attend. We are supposed to get our first snow, so we will see.
Happy Sunday to all!
Friday
Friday was a very busy day hence the lack of posts. The day began with breakfast with Fr. Greg. We decided some months ago that we would meet every now and again and have breakfast together. We use these times for mutual support and also a time to just shoot the bull so to speak. We always go to the same place Bickfords in Auburn. Its nice to be able to break bread with a brother in the Lord.
Returned to the Village to gather up some stuff and change my shirt and started out on visitations. I don’t do this as often as I should and it was nice to get back in the groove of visiting. I only have two house bound parishioners here so it does not take long, but it also allows me more time to spend with each of them. One lady lives in her own home and one lives in a rest home. Both are lovely ladies and I enjoy talking with them. They have great stories of church life here in the early years and it is nice to hear them.
In between the two visits I had my oil changed in the old truck, another thing that I don’t do enough. Why is it that you go to have your oil changed and they want to sell you every other thing under the sun. Just change the oil thank you. The other thing I thought was funny while I was sitting in the waiting room I picked up the local paper and noticed that all of the ads from other oil change places had the word VOID written across them. I had to laugh at that.
After my second visit I went off to the Fire House. I have not been by there in a while either and I like to pop in for lunch, but I had such a big breakfast I skipped lunch yesterday. It’s nice to pop and see the guys and talk with them about what is going on. We have a small town and not much happens in the way of big fires, but they still get busy from time to time.
Back to the village for a light supper and then I watched the movie White Christmas. Nice movie about simpler times and I was wondering if that movie would be a hit today like it was when it first came out. Everyone had their clothes on in the whole movie, no one got killed, and everyone stayed in their own rooms at night. Just some good clean dancing and singing. I did not know this but it was the first time that Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby were in a movie together.
Well, that’s pretty much a day in the life here.
World AIDS Day
Today is World AIDS day and a day when we should remember those who work with people affected by AIDS and also those who suffer with this dread disease.
Divine Liturgy
I have just finished watching the rebroadcast on EWTN of the Divine Liturgy from Turkey this morning. I did not see the entire liturgy but a the end when the two were on the balcony and they held hands and raised them over their heads was just beautiful.
Now I know that there are many things that stand between east and west, and one visit it not going to erase all of those years of distrust and misunderstanding, but what a gesture that was for me, and I have to say I got a tear in my eye. Let us continue to pray for discussions and understanding between both east and west. Many years to Pope Benedict and Many Years to Patriarch Batholomew.
Joint Declaration by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
and Pope Benedict XVI
1. The filial meeting of the two Church leaders renews their commitment to work towards the restoration of Full Communion between the two Churches, which is God’s will and command.
2. The two Prelates recalled with gratitude their predecessors, Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, as well as Ecumenical Patriarchs Athenagoras and Dimitrios, who lead the path towards the reconciliation (abatement) of the two churches, through their meetings and mutual visits, as well as the lifting of the 11th Century anathemas between Rome and Constantinople. They call on (implore) the faithful of both Churches to strengthen their prayers and endeavors towards the unity of the Churches.
3. They express their joy and satisfaction for the recommencement of the official Theological Dialogue between the two Churches, as well as for the recent meeting of the plenary session of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue in Belgrade, offering their full support to its works.
4. They underline the duty of the Church to carry the message of the Gospel to the modern world, and especially to Christian countries, where secularization, relativism and even nihilism is observed, particularly in the West. The common heritage of the two churches should take into account modern cultural trends, quests as well as the problems of humanity in today’s world.
5. Referring to the formation of the European Union, they stress the following: “We evaluated positively the path towards the shaping of the European Union. The key players in this huge endeavor will surely take into account all that is related to human beings and their non-negotiable rights, especially religious freedom, which is proof and assurance of respect for all other freedoms. In every initiative for union, minorities, with their cultural rights and religious distinctiveness should be protected. In Europe, both Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholics, while remaining open to other religions and their contribution to culture, should unite their efforts to safeguard Christian roots, traditions and values, in order to preserve respect for history and to also contribute to the culture of a future Europe, as well as to the quality of human relations at all levels. In this respect, how could we not refer to very ancient martyrs and to the glorious Christian heritage of the land, in which we are meeting, beginning with the words of the Book of the Apostles for Saint Paul, Apostle to the Nations? On this land, the message of the Gospel and ancient philosophical tradition have met. This bond, which contributed to our common Christian heritage, remains current and will in the future bear fruit for the promotion of the Gospel and for our unity”.
6. They turn their eye towards the lands where Christians face difficulties and where wars, terrorism and famine prevail as well as the exploitation of the poor, of immigrants, of women and children.
They call on Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians to take up common action for the respect of human rights for all people and the protection of human life from the slaughter of innocents, especially when it is carried out in the name of God.
In particular, they turn their eyes to the Middle East, where the Lord lived and where Christians have been living for centuries. They stressed the need for the restoration of peace in the area and for a peaceful coexistence and cooperation between the people, churches and religions, and they encourage interfaith dialogue in order to counter violence and discrimination in every form.
7. They express their concern in the face of great dangers stemming from the destruction of the natural environment and the negative consequences for humanity and all creation, caused by uncontrolled economic and technological progress. As spiritual leaders, they support every effort for the protection of the natural environment, so that an (intact) unharmed planet is inherited by future generations, where they could live.
8. Finally, they turn to all faithful Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians around the world, clergy, monks and laypeople, giving them their blessing and their reassurance that they shall have their prayers and their love, as well as to all other Christians, with whom they are willing and ready to come into dialogue and cooperation.
2. The two Prelates recalled with gratitude their predecessors, Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, as well as Ecumenical Patriarchs Athenagoras and Dimitrios, who lead the path towards the reconciliation (abatement) of the two churches, through their meetings and mutual visits, as well as the lifting of the 11th Century anathemas between Rome and Constantinople. They call on (implore) the faithful of both Churches to strengthen their prayers and endeavors towards the unity of the Churches.
3. They express their joy and satisfaction for the recommencement of the official Theological Dialogue between the two Churches, as well as for the recent meeting of the plenary session of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue in Belgrade, offering their full support to its works.
4. They underline the duty of the Church to carry the message of the Gospel to the modern world, and especially to Christian countries, where secularization, relativism and even nihilism is observed, particularly in the West. The common heritage of the two churches should take into account modern cultural trends, quests as well as the problems of humanity in today’s world.
5. Referring to the formation of the European Union, they stress the following: “We evaluated positively the path towards the shaping of the European Union. The key players in this huge endeavor will surely take into account all that is related to human beings and their non-negotiable rights, especially religious freedom, which is proof and assurance of respect for all other freedoms. In every initiative for union, minorities, with their cultural rights and religious distinctiveness should be protected. In Europe, both Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholics, while remaining open to other religions and their contribution to culture, should unite their efforts to safeguard Christian roots, traditions and values, in order to preserve respect for history and to also contribute to the culture of a future Europe, as well as to the quality of human relations at all levels. In this respect, how could we not refer to very ancient martyrs and to the glorious Christian heritage of the land, in which we are meeting, beginning with the words of the Book of the Apostles for Saint Paul, Apostle to the Nations? On this land, the message of the Gospel and ancient philosophical tradition have met. This bond, which contributed to our common Christian heritage, remains current and will in the future bear fruit for the promotion of the Gospel and for our unity”.
6. They turn their eye towards the lands where Christians face difficulties and where wars, terrorism and famine prevail as well as the exploitation of the poor, of immigrants, of women and children.
They call on Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians to take up common action for the respect of human rights for all people and the protection of human life from the slaughter of innocents, especially when it is carried out in the name of God.
In particular, they turn their eyes to the Middle East, where the Lord lived and where Christians have been living for centuries. They stressed the need for the restoration of peace in the area and for a peaceful coexistence and cooperation between the people, churches and religions, and they encourage interfaith dialogue in order to counter violence and discrimination in every form.
7. They express their concern in the face of great dangers stemming from the destruction of the natural environment and the negative consequences for humanity and all creation, caused by uncontrolled economic and technological progress. As spiritual leaders, they support every effort for the protection of the natural environment, so that an (intact) unharmed planet is inherited by future generations, where they could live.
8. Finally, they turn to all faithful Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians around the world, clergy, monks and laypeople, giving them their blessing and their reassurance that they shall have their prayers and their love, as well as to all other Christians, with whom they are willing and ready to come into dialogue and cooperation.
Andrew & Peter Meet
This is one of the many photos from today’s Divine Liturgy in Turkey.
The Pope and the Patriarch greet each other as the Pope is welcomed into the church. I have not seen the Liturgy yet, I did not want to get up at 2am, but it will be rebroadcast this afternoon at 2pm on EWTN. From the comments I have read by my fellow bloggers it was a wonderful event. There were some questions as to why the Pope was not commemorated during the Liturgy as he was last night. This is an example of the separation. The prayer service last night was just that, a prayer service. The Liturgy is something different and if the Pope was commemorated during it it would assume communion. Since we are not in communion with each other, it would be inappropriate for the Pope to be commemorated. One interesting comment I found was that as the people were coming up for communion they were bowing to the Pope and he was bowing back to them. Very nice. More after I have a chance to watch but you can find many comments of both Orthodox and Catholic Blogs.
Dog the Bounty Hunter
It would seem that the Dog is in the Dog House. This is not new news but Dog was on Larry King Live tonight talking about his case. He was arrested in Mexico several years ago while on a bounty. It would seem that bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico. I tune into the show from time to time, and if you can get past his appearance, he really is a good guy and tries to help out those that he arrests. Anyway, there is a hearing this coming Monday in Mexico to try and dismiss the charges. Good Luck Dog.
Violence in Scotland
Rocco Palmo at Whispers in the Loggia has an article about violence against catholics in Scotland. One would think that after all these years that kind of thing would be over.